Continuing an irregular series commenting on how the election looks to commercial tv viewers: commercial free to air is the biggest single source of information for voters.

The election’s still still back at number one on Channel Nine Brisbane, probably because it enables them to talk about Laurie Oakes’ role. The item led with the newsreader citing Julia Gillard’s statement that her concern in Cabinet about paid parental leave was fiscal responsibility. A large number of grabs from her press conference were shown, and Joe Hockey was giving a weird grin when Tony Abbott started his spiel, before returning to the now traditional nodding role. Read more »

Continuing an irregular series commenting on how the election looks to commercial tv viewers: commercial free to air is the biggest single source of information for voters.

After almost disappearing last night, the election was back on Brisbane’s Channel Nine news tonight – big time. The PM was in Brisbane, appearing with Anna Bligh to announce around $700 million for that hardy election perennial, a rail line to Redcliffe. (For background, see Andrew Bartlett.)

It certainly is a slog to get to Redcliffe by public transport, involving a long bus trip from either Petrie or Shorncliffe station. There was a bit of scepticism expressed on the vox pops, because this promise is regularly made by both major political parties in both state and federal campaigns, and nothing ever happens (it was first mooted in the 19th century, and land was resumed in 1978). Read more »